From the look of the
front cover Brilliant Classics are concentrating
on marketing this release with the attractive
looks of the raven-haired soloist Klára
Würtz, an approach that belies
the heavyweight nature of the masterworks
contained within.

Born in Hungary in
1965 pianist Klára Würtz
has made several recordings for Brilliant
Classics and we are told that, "in
this set she plays her favourite works,
for which she has a specific affection,
in which she has something special to
say, a personal response to great music."
Before hearing this release I had not
come across her playing and accomplished
playing it is too. Unfortunately, virtually
ever virtuoso pianist worth his or her
salt has recorded the Schumann concerto
and the second Rachmaninov concerto
at least once. To say that the competition
in the catalogues is tremendously fierce
would be a gross understatement.

The Second Concerto
from 1902 is one of Rachmaninov’s greatest
and most popular works. With its success
the composer managed to restore the
faith in himself following a debilitating
three year illness. It is hard to look
further than the classic recording by
Vladimir Ashkenazy and the London Symphony
Orchestra under André Previn
on Decca 460 632-2. Despite Klára
Würtz’s fresh and sensitive reading
and the able assistance of the National
Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine under
Vladimir Sirenko she just cannot compete
with Ashkenazy’s poetry and beauty in
the Adagio and his dazzling and
triumphant playing in the final movement’s
Allegro scherzando.

Schumann composed his
Piano Concerto in 1845 following his
marriage to Clara. It is one of Schumann’s
mightiest achievements and one the most
brilliant jewels in the Romantic piano
repertoire. My primary recommendation
for the Schumann concerto is the version
from Stephen Kovacevich with the BBC
Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis
on Philips 446 192-2. I also have a
special affection for the version by
Murray Perahia with the Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra under Claudio Abbado on Sony
SK64577. Soloist Klára Würtz
plays with a pleasing crispness and
considerable brilliance. Würtz
does not have that special distinctive
quality of Murray Perahia who manages
to combine power and boldness with freshness
and passion. I should mention the fine
playing from the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie
under the direction of Arie van Beek
who serve our soloist so well.

The second disc in
the set is a Romantic recital of selections
from Liszt, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin
and Debussy. Würtz made this less
than a year ago in the Hervormde Kerk
Rhoon, Holland. In this excellent recital
she offers very fine performances falling
just short of distinction. Of the five
Liszt works I was particularly impressed
with her compelling and confident interpretation
of the Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat
major. I would also single out for
particular praise the Schubert Impromptu
in B flat major Op. 142 No. 3 "Rosamunde"
which is engagingly and exuberantly
played. However I was less happy with
the reading of the final track, L’isle
joyeuse by Debussy, where our soloist
doesn’t, on this occasion, seem to have
quite the control and subtlety required
in this type of repertoire.

On this Brilliant Classics
set Klára Würtz gives fine
performances and deserves to be better
known. But the competition is very fierce
in all the works particularly the Schumann
and Rachmaninov concertos.
Michael Cookson

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